Obituary of Adelaide " Betsy Rossey

Mrs. Adelaide Elizabeth Finnegan Rossey of Tinton Falls, N.J., passed away at home on Dec. 25, 2014, after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. Mrs. Rossey was born in New Haven, Conn., on Aug. 16, 1937, the daughter of the late Adelaide and Joseph Finnegan. From early childhood on, she was known as Betsy. Educated in the public schools of New Haven, she then attended St. Mary's High School and received her bachelor's degree in history and elementary education from the College of St. Elizabeth in 1958. During high school and college, she was in many dramatic events and held leading roles in most of them. Mrs. Rossey received her master's degree from Kean University and completed additional graduate study at Pace University. She was a certified reading specialist in New Jersey. She began her career in Bloomfield, N.J., and then taught in Scotch Plains, N.J., before her work in the Short Hills and Wyoming Schools in Millburn, N.J. Highly recognized as a great leader in professional association work, she was twice elected president of the Millburn Education Association. In this position, she was known as a superb negotiator and supporter of quality teaching. Likewise, she did not accept poor performance and made that issue very public. The board of education saluted her for her magnificent leadership on many occasions. Mrs. Rossey was an ardent opera-goer and visitor at museums and art centers in this country and in Europe. She was a collector of silver and crystal antiques, and was well known for her many parties. Betsy's son, Sean Ramsay, died in 2011. She is survived by by her loving husband, Dr. Paul William Rossey of Tinton Falls, N.J; her sister, Mary Finnegan Leitner of San Diego, Calif. She is also survived by several nieces and a nephews and a great-niece and many cousins. Betsy had a most wonderful lifelong relationship with Marie Dillon, now of New York City. They became childhood pals in New Haven at two years of age, played on the beaches of Long Island Sound, graduated from high school and college together, and worked in the fancy hotels at the Jersey Shore during college summers. It was a marvelous life together. Arrangements are by The Jacob A. Holle Funeral home in Maplewood, N.J. At Mrs. Rossey's request, burial will be private at Restland Memorial Park in East Hanover, N.J.